No matter how
many coats of paint
I paint the past
it’s passed, the point
of paint, of course,
to beautify, protect,
to cover and reflect
what otherwise I might
reject for being plain,
unvarnished, bare…
bare like branches in
late fall, bare like
weathered sheds
and truth—egad,
no, not the truth!

And when I paint
to cover, glossing over
bumps and flaws, I call
them out, though not
to play, there is no fun
in imperfection—can
there be?

And in my fear
that you might see
the curvatures of life
as she displays herself
with some magnificence
through me, I’ll focus
on your semi-nakedness,
the neither-here-nor-there
of you that is the me, stuck
in the past, reflected, and
I’ll point them out quite
helpfully—just there, a little
flaw. Hold still, I have
the perfect paint.

I enjoyed your view on Paint and realized it is a subject that might be long expounded upon; I watched your drying ink several times today and in the end arrived with this

Wet Paint

Another coat brushed thin
another layer of patina added
smoothing the dings and dongs
disguising the wabi sabi
signs of wear and tear
are not accepted here
only fresh and new will do
edges sharp, corners filled
no drips nor drops nor runs
no errors, colors coordinate from room
to room, shade just right for light
smooth here textured there
glossy there, here a softer sheen
to brush or spray or daub with sponge
so many choices to be made
and don’t forget it could stay bare
a work in progress a simple sign
a warning do not touch
your prints will mar carefully executed
evenness, a smear will make it all
in vain that laid upon precision
but hey, here’s a thought: if I have to
redo it, it will afford a chance
for me to change again
any one of my decisions
and add another coat brushed thin . . ..
D. Russel Micnhimer 9-11-2013

Having done more than my share of this in this lifetime I had trouble breaking from the back and forth mechanics of it into the metaphysical aspects, nonetheless I submit this in response. (My arm is tired just reading it again! (Mine, not yours))

This is simply delightful, Russel! I love the lightness and easy-going discipline of the poet-painter–it IS about the fresh and new, and getting better with every stroke of the brush. I smiled throughout the read, and lol’d at “But hey, here’s a thought.” Thank you!